Monday’s win at Old Trafford slips into the history books, another reference point in the season and one which will hopefully serve as a more reliable fillip to the season than the win at The Etihad proved to be. Three Premier League games later that had been replaced by the slough of despair following defeat in the North London Derby.

And if you’ve been to Slough, you’ll understand the despair.

Last night’s glorious failure on the part of Schalke brought forth a slew of optimism about next week’s trip to Monaco. If the Germans can go to the Bernabeu and play fearlessly, why can Arsenal not go to the Principality with the same attitude and the same endeavour?

There’s no reason why not, of course. Arsenal should go to Monaco believing they can overhaul a two-goal deficit but we know from past experience, it doesn’t end well. And this time won’t be any different in my view.

But there are games around that fixture which will shape the season to a greater extent and its these where the impact of winning at United will (hopefully) be felt. It was the second away win of the season in big fixtures for the club, bring the record this campaign to – excluding the Charity Shield – to Played 8, won 2, drawn 3, lost 3. It’s better than previous years and with three more matches in the series to go, it could be considerably better come May.

It might be worse and we wouldn’t be surprised by that. It might get better and we would, happily so I might add. It’s unrealistic to expect Arsenal to win every fixture against the other sides in the top four and Tottenham but improving on the woeful record of the last decade will be a significant step for the squad.

This weekend has the potential to be defining for the top four. Arsenal have a derby match against West Ham, one where the expectation is of three points. With Chelsea entertaining Southampton and United Tottenham, the picture could be a lot clearer. If the top five all win this weekend, the gap between fourth and sixth would be six points; a healthy divide at this stage of the season and one where the chasing pack struggle to make inroads.

Then it is the simple case of making five four. All straightforward and United seem to be the most likely to drop out. Even if Tottenham win at Old Trafford, an Arsenal victory will leave the gap to the pair at four points, one that cannot be closed in one game. A key gap that needs momentum and collapse, neither of which on the face of it at least, seems probable.

Football’s an easy game on paper, isn’t it?

But it needs perspective. Hillsborough has cast its deadly pall over English football for a number of years and yesterday’s admission from David Duckenfield is by far the biggest yet although much of the information which has come to light about media and political machinations have been seismic.

For the record, David Conn’s tweets and columns during the inquest have been invaluable for those of us who remember the tragic events clearly, even if they were viewed from a distance.

Those of us who travelled the length and breadth of the land at the time, irrespective of club colours, know the sensation of a packed terrace. We moaned about it at the time, complained about being treated worse than cattle but throughout it all, rejoiced in the camaraderie of the terrace culture. It is a world away from Premier League football, in terms of facilities and supporters themselves.

In his weekly round-up of last weekend’s Bundesliga,Raphael Honigstein lamented the change in supporters attitudes and the excesses brought about by zealotry. I’m in the group where football is not as important as it once was, even though it still is high on the lists of priorities; Arsenal losing a match hurts for less time than it used to and I don’t see any reason to temper my views on what is right or wrong at the club. I never have and probably am becoming more waspish as the years go by in this respect.

The weekend’s pitch invasion at Villa Park and the senseless attack on a Watford supporter at the weekend are uncomfortable reminders of what football used to be like; is still like, these events happened. But they are the exceptions rather than the norm. Policing at fixtures has changed in terms of numbers but the immediate reaction of senior officers to Villa Park underlines that not all attitudes have.

Money has come into the game in unprecedented volume and facilities have improved. Watching a game is, in terms of facilities, safer and more comfortable. Is it more enjoyable? The relationship between club and supporters has changed. It was feared that the move to all-seater stadia would lead to a decline in atmosphere and around the country, you can sense that happening. Passion is subdued when posteriors are perched in comfort.

As much as supporters try to do things, to organise themselves, the absence of co-operation from clubs exacerbates problems. Arsenal were culpable with that failure for the first leg against Monaco. It’s a product now, not a professional sport, an all-encompassing arm of the entertainment industry and clubs need to remember that. When they get complaints, it’s no different from theatre-goers reviewing a play and the surroundings. That’s what it has come to. It’s not how it should be though.

As money from other sources becomes more important than supporter revenues, little wonder the CEO’s of United and Arsenal recently paid more interest to what they termed ‘football tourists’, who make up around a fifth of the crowd at each game. Clubs view them preferably because of the extra spend they bring with each, I dare say, spending more in the club shop on one visit than I would. The sums, however, may not be different over the course of a season.

Football is different, its times are no longer a-changing Mr Dylan, they already have.

A good night’s work received its’ just reward when Michael Oliver’s strong refereeing performance received wide acclaim. Arsenal didn’t do too badly out of it either; facing the winners of the Bradford or Reading replay in the semi-final at Wembley was probably the one they would have chosen before the draw was made.

Oliver’s performance, even without his rightful dismissal of Di Maria, contributed to what was a pulsating cup-tie. Strong enough to deal with theatrics from both sides, he ignored the constant whining and imploring of United’s captain and players to book their opponents and give decisions to the home team for their despicable theatrics.

That they resorted to such tactics even with eleven players on the field underlined the bankruptcy of ideas and ability which holds sway at Old Trafford. Would that Oliver’s predecessors had possessed such strength of character.

Arsenal deserved the victory. The footballing rope-a-dope which emerged at Manchester City earlier this year, re-appeared last night. Territory was wilfully ceded in exchange for biting attack. In previous weeks, conceding a quick equaliser might have instigated a collapse of nerve, particularly with poor defending a key cause of the goal. Last night, Arsenal shrugged their shoulders and got on with it.

That attitude, so often missing this season, made the world of difference.

And amid it all, was the luxury of footballing revenge of sorts. Danny Welbeck capitalised on lax defensive play to ram last summer’s parting words firmly down United’s Dutch manager’s throat. No holding back in celebrating the goal, the boos which cascaded around the stadium as Welbeck was replaced by Olivier Giroud, confirmed the former hero was, in many eyes, the pantomime villain so often missing from Premier League football.

Such a chorus was music to Arsenal ears. It was obvious by that point, the players of United were beaten. The supporters, in their reaction, confirmed their surrender that not even a resurgence of belief when five additional minutes of added time commenced.

For Arsenal’s unsung cast, it was an evening of vindication, if they felt they needed it. Rooney’s equaliser was the only piece of genuinely poor play from the centre back pairing; Mertesacker and Koscielny left Szczesny exposed with a gap wider than needed by the turning circle of a Routemaster. They were suitably punished. But every time United threatened to breach the visitors defence, it felt that they – particularly the German – were there to step into the breach, very calmly.

Not that United threatened that often. They had the possession but were wasteful, harried and hassled out of possession by the yapping, snapping guard dog, Coquelin, in midfield. The full backs played their part; Bellerin, booked early on, remained calm and was only hooked when Young’s theatrical dives took an even more shameful turn for the worse.

On another night the young Spaniard might well have seen a second yellow but the desperate howls of the United players were ignored by the referee. Arsène wisely chose not to test Mr Oliver’s patience any further and put on Calum Chambers instead. Young found even less change out of him than he the morsels he had from Bellerin.

But for me, the star turn came from Nacho Monreal. Coquelin was voted Man of the Match by the viewers of the noxious broadcaster who staged this match on a Monday evening yet it was surprising that Monreal was overlooked entirely for in the cast list. His Oscar was surely guaranteed with the calmest of finishes after Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had danced through the United players, leaving them strewn across their home stage.

Up front, it was a mixed evening. Özil probably topped the stats for miles run with his deceptive and languid style. The German prompted when afforded space yet his contribution was sporadic. Cazorla meanwhile, was an eager beaver in attack, creating opportunities for others as well as producing a directness which troubled United.

The turning point – or that which confirmed Arsenal’s ascendency – arrived with the unfortunate withdrawal of Oxlade-Chamberlain. His injury is the only blight on the evening. His absence for what will most likely be several weeks reduces the options on the right but might finally offer Theo Walcott the opportunity to express himself.

I wasn’t surprised Walcott didn’t replace Ox last night, it was too early in the second half and Arsenal still had graft to do. Ramsey offered bite in the centre; he and Coquelin recycled the ball thoughtfully and their prompting proved troublesome for the ham-fisted United defence.

Indeed, were it not for De Gea, the margin of victory would have been greater. Two saves of outstanding quality prevented Arsenal doubling their score and it was surprising he was not in contention for the Oscar, rather than this nation’s saving disgrace, Rooney, whose constant moaning in Michael Oliver’s ears was pathetic.

I think we started without any apprehension. That gave them problems. Unfortunately at half-time it was 1-1 but overall we felt we were in control in the second half after we scored the second goal. We could have scored one or two more. Overall I’m pleased above all with the performance and the mental aspect of the game. It was always positive and you know that I like that.

It was indeed a positive performance, almost at odds with displays in recent weeks. Arsenal raised their game in what has so often been an arena where they have performed tragedies. They played to their strengths and received due reward. I can’t think of one player who did not perform well. Szczesny was nervous at times, understandable given his recent illness and lack of training, on top of the pressure of the occasion. A fumble or two but for the most part, safe.

Winning last night was more than the FA Cup, it is about giving the players belief that they can win the ‘big’ matches away from home. With United’s run of upcoming fixtures, the season’s second meeting at Old Trafford may well be irrelevant in the context of the race for Champions League placings. Even if it isn’t, last night showed Arsenal have nothing to fear from the contest.

Matchday. When all the talk of the previous week is put its proper place and context; it’s just talk. Tonight is about delivering on those words.

The FA Cup Quarter-Final stage. The last eight. The prize? A trip to Wembley which is just so wrong. You can argue that staging the semi-finals there enables more fans to see the match. It does but so would reducing the number of tickets dished out to sponsors, suits and assorted liggers.

Does holding the two semi-finals in the national stadium impinge on the glamour of the final? It does, in my view, but no more than ticket prices and ridiculous kick-off times.

Which is brings us nicely back to this evening. I like watching Arsenal at any time of the week but 8pm on a Monday night, knowing that there was a perfectly good slot left unused yesterday? It’s broadcasting gone mad as far as football is concerned, the television companies ruling the roost by a step too far.

Former players, the great and the good, they all talk about how the glamour of the FA Cup must be restored but the spineless negotiating of the Football Association lets them down and adds a layer of rust to a once great tournament.

And then you go and win it, making it a great tournament once more…

Arsenal head to Manchester tonight, turning up at Old Trafford for an 8pm kick-off at the behest of the BBC. No coincidence, I’m sure, that the majority of Auntie’s staff for this occasion work in Salford and will be tucked up a lot earlier than the hardy souls making their way south on the motorway network.

Old Trafford, the self-proclaimed Theatre of Dreams; it’s been a nightmare for Arsenal in the last decade with an abysmal record of one draw and nine defeats in their last ten visits. It’s been a decade since our last win there, a well-deserved three points earned by Emmanuel Adebayor’s goal.

But you knew that already, it’s been mentioned enough in the media since Wednesday’s win at Loftus Road. The victors, it’s claimed, will be handed a big boost over their rivals in the race for the top four places. I’m not sure it will be psychological in the sense of superiority between the two but confidence? There’s no doubt that going into a tough run of fixtures, United would gain some impetus.

Arsenal meanwhile still retain a sense of fragility, that each defeat in a big match weighs heavy with the impact lingering. Crucially, the two setbacks in the past month or so have seen wins in subsequent games even if the performances have been far from convincing. It isn’t the mental strength attributed to champions or challengers for that matter but for this season, it will have to do.

If you look at the two sides, Arsenal go into the match slight favourites in terms of abilities. The problem comes with organisation. Van Gaal will organise his side well, that is one of his strengths but they can be vulnerable at home with disciplined performances – Southampton proved that in January.

Neither side is anywhere near displaying the consistent quality of their prime when they held sway over the English game. Defeat this evening offers Arsenal the typically early end to interest in the end-of-season honours and it’s a feeling United are getting used to following Ferguson’s retirement.

A sense of being hard done by emerged in Arsène’s press conference last week. The injustice of the home defeat to United in November rang through but Arsenal were wasteful in front of goal and didn’t defend diligently enough. Hit on the counter, they were suitably punished. If that injustice sparks greater concentration, effort and accuracy tonight, they won’t be hollow words.

That’s the key to not being knocked out. Ideally Arsenal will win tonight but a draw is nowhere near the issue that many believe. Let’s face it, we will have plenty of free mid-weeks after the second leg of the Champions League clash with Monaco.

Thankfully, Arsène has pledged to field a strong side, avoiding the farcical weakened line-ups of yesteryear. Last season underlined the impact of putting out as close to the first choice XI as possible. With injuries striking, the choices are more limited.

The back four and goalkeeper pretty much pick themselves. Nacho Monreal might find himself back into the starting line-up. Arsène’s biggest choice is midfield; Aaron Ramsey or Santi Cazorla alongside Francis Coquelin. It’s a no-brainer if the Welshman is fit; Cazorla has done well enough in the home matches against lesser sides but Monaco proved that we need more defensive energy in the position.

The question then becomes who makes way from the attacking line-up? The evening seems set for the work rate of Alexis and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. If that is the criteria, Danny Welbeck’s inclusion makes sense, particularly with the added spice of a homecoming to throw into the mix. However, the downside is that this trio lends itself to a direct, counter-attacking style which whilst not devoid of flair, is less inventive than normal.

It leaves the line-up as:
Perhaps that is what we need. Quick breaks from the back of hardworking defence. Over-elaboration has cost us dearly in this fixture before and United will be set to break up play. The reality is that Arsène will fit both Özil and Cazorla into the line-up, most likely at the expense of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Welbeck.

As with the last three Premier League meetings between the two sides, it’s a match Arsenal are eminently capable of winning such is United’s fall from grace. As those three meetings proved, we can be as far away as ever from doing so. And yet, I think it’s a match we will win.

Let’s hope that feeling in the stomach is right and not a sign of a medical problem.

Enjoy the match wherever you are watching it.

From The Vaults

12th March 1906. No Highbury, the club had yet to move to their spiritual home and Woolwich Arsenal was still the proper form of address. No Old Trafford either, Manchester United were equidistant from dropping Newton Heath to building their home.

This though, was the first meeting between the two sides in the FA Cup. Neither side had reached the final with the winner facing the prospect of their first semi-final.

United were second in the Second Division, a position they would finish the season in following a run of one defeat in sixteen matches. Arsenal were seventeenth in Division One, just two points above the relegation places. A similarly strong run saw them move into the comfort of mid-table, ending the season in eleventh, yet again the highest finish achieved by a London side in the Football League.

OK, so they were the only London side in the Football League but that’s just nit-picking. Arsenal went on to lose to Newcastle United in the semi-final, who suffered defeat at the hands of Everton at Crystal Palace in the final.

United would have to wait another forty-five years to defeat Arsenal in the FA Cup.

The coming weekend is one where past and present mix contentedly with the trip to Old Trafford on the horizon. Not the happiest of hunting grounds but one of the Premier League’s enduring rivalries even when both have fallen on harder times. Which segues into this morning’s playlist, Remember How We Started, which can be found here or on Dad’s Jukebox in the right sidebar or in the archives.

There’s an element of Schadenfreude, I know, with the tabloids screaming that United are a club in crisis. Not quite broken Red Devils but with Evans unbelievably fighting his FA charge after the contretemps at St James Park and Ryan Giggs forced to issue a denial of a reported rift between himself and Louis Van Gaal.

A pleasant change from Arsenal holding the crisis club mantle.

For both clubs a top four finish is the priority for the season which is understandable from both points of view. United need to convince themselves that Van Gaal, despite the desperately mediocre squad he has inherited and not particularly enhanced, is taking them on an upward trajectory into next season’s Europa League in all likelihood.

With the winners of that tournament going into the Champions League, the top four trophy is no longer the be-all and end-all of a season; winning silverware brings its own rewards. Taking the Europa League seriously offers the opportunity to regroup and achieve once more.

And despite all this, they still won at The Emirates. It’s hard to put that into words, a bit like losing at Old Trafford last season when you know the opposition is nowhere near as good as it was. A guttural cry of anger and annoyance would best describe how it feels.

There’s an element of psychology about it all for the both clubs. United raise their game against Arsenal, no matter their own form whilst Arsenal have some fear and trepidation which has seeped into the fabric of squad and manager. Recent seasons have seen other clubs go to Manchester and get results, Arsenal meanwhile appear no closer than previous years to taking all three.

Arsenal’s problems in this type of fixture are well-documented and underline the reason that the win at The Etihad was so welcomed. The crucial test for the players is to ensure that result isn’t just seen as an anomaly, a freak if you like. It’s by no means certain that will not be the case.

Arsène sought to push such thoughts to one side,

I don’t believe too much in history. I just believe in the performance on the day. At the moment, we are doing very well away from home. The size of the pitch is exactly the same everywhere, it’s just down to how much we turn up and how much effort we put in to win the game.

The manager has a key role to play. In the past, too much tinkering with the line-up has caused Arsenal to fail in the FA Cup, at Old Trafford. Last season saw reward for luck of the draw and fielding strong teams. I hope he does the same on Monday.

Arsène went on to talk about taking the momentum from the Premier League into the FA Cup. We need a better performance level, one more in line with the second half at Loftus Road than the match against Leicester. If Arsenal play to the peak of their abilities, they can win (even handsomely) but all too often that doesn’t happen.

Look at last season, a run of eight wins in nine unbeaten games came to a grinding halt with an insipid performance. That’s the biggest issue to overcome.

Finally for this segment and on an FA Cup weekend, it seems most appropriate, happy birthday to the most underrated on Arsenal. Wait a minute, I don’t think I’ll bother; it’s only Ray Parlour…

From The Vaults

January 1937, Arsenal are the ascendant English football club having held sway over the game for the decade so far. Things have just begun to get back on track for the season, with a 4 – 1 Christmas Day victory over Preston North End at Highbury taking them to the top of the table for the first time in the season.

They would there or thereabouts for the remainder of the season until a run of one win in the last four games would undo their hopes of becoming champions once more.

This though was the FA Cup fourth round. Chesterfield had been despatched with a routine 5 – 1 win under the watching gaze of the crooked spire of St Mary and All Saints Parish church. It brought Manchester United to Highbury for this encounter.

It wasn’t the best of seasons for the Mancunians, they would end up relegated. It just goes to show that some things never change; a distinctly average 1930s Manchester United were able to take three points out of four from Arsenal even though they were unsuccessfully fighting the drop.

This would different and the true gulf between the two sides emerged as Arsenal showed no mercy and 45.637 watch them unceremoniously dump their First Division rivals out of the FA Cup.

That Friday feeling, topped only by the tingling of matchday. The weekend is here, people and it’s foot…wait. OK, Monday night football doesn’t work for me. It’s not quite as bad as an international break but let’s be honest, it can be almost as brutal.

The Football Association has once again, got it arse about face when it comes to the fixture list. Is QPR’s encounter with Tottenham really the only top-flight game that could be scheduled for the weekend? With Arsenal’s trip to the grim heartlands of the industrial revolution not scheduled until Monday, it strikes me there is more than enough scope for others to play rather than having ten days rest not afforded to cup participants.

For once I’m grateful that #2 son’s match kicks off on Saturday afternoon. I know 1.30pm isn’t 3pm and to be honest, I prefer his games starting at 10am but needs must and this weekend, it fills an Arsenal-sized hole.

English football turns its spittle-fuelled ego toward the FA Cup this weekend with Manchester United’s denial that Johnny Evans was worse than Papiss Cisse making a mockery of the whole process. United are taking a calculated risk, probably confident that their denial won’t constitute a frivolous appeal and lead to an increased ban.

For me, the problem with the six or seven games being bandied around – a punishment prescribed by FIFA – is comparison with more serious offences. John Terry received a shorter ban whilst Suarez just one match more. Whilst the actions of Evans and Cisse were vile, they were nowhere near as heinous as racism.

It’s the imbalance that the FA never address, seemingly out of touch with the court of public opinion. I doubt anyone who views the incident at St James Park dispassionately, would disagree with the predicted sentence of six matches. It isn’t that which is the problem, it’s the unwillingness of the governing body to address other, more serious offences and put in place sterner tariffs.

As is always the case, it’s the inconsistencies which cause the problems.

It’s quiet on the Arsenal front, the players recovering from their exertions on Wednesday night. Gabriel has a bit longer than most, he will be out until April – a sensationalist way of saying the end of the month – with another hamstring-twang. The medical staff no doubt view the Brazilian’s woes in the same way that we do with a small graze. It’s routine stuff, they know what they are doing.

The manager’s mind will be racing through how to win at Old Trafford. Even before Arsène’s reign, we had a poor record at United and whilst there have been some outstanding wins during the past eighteen years, it’s still very much a graveyard of Arsenal dreams.

Some of it is ability. Recent seasons have seen lesser Arsenal sides fall by the wayside in recent years whilst even with the distinctly average Moyes squad, Arsenal still contrived to lose last season. The FA Cup is different for both sides, it’s the only realistic chance of silverware and with Liverpool the only real danger beyond complacency left in the competition, both will believe they are good enough to win the trophy.

Memories of ’79 are evoked whenever this tie occurs. I’d say 2005 but frankly we were so poor that day and the match so distinctly uneventful until Reyes dismissal, there isn’t much to remember. A couple of Lehman saves during the match and then Vieira with his final kick in an Arsenal shirt. Not a bad way to sign out.

It’s that spirit, obduracy – whatever you want to call it – which has so frequently been missing. A re-run of the spirit of 2003 and a touch of the luck we had when Ryan Giggs thundered the crossbar with an open goal at his mercy, is long overdue when you consider the feeble performances witnessed in three of the four cup meetings since.

Win! Win! Win!

This morning, you can win one of these fine Thierry Henry tee-shirt’s courtesy of Art of Football, whose expanding range of exceptional Arsenal clobber can be found here. All you have to do is answer the following question correctly:

Arsenal won the first FA Cup meeting between the two clubs by which scoreline? Was it:

(a) 1 – 0

(b) 2 – 1

(c) 3 – 2

Answers to competitions@aclfarsenal.co.uk, with a, b or c in the subject line by midnight (GMT) on Thursday, 12th March 2014. Winner announced next weekend.

If you’re just too excited before then, you can get 10% off by using the discount code “Wenger” at the checkout. Arsène would wholeheartedly approve of such a saving…